Electrical connector device



Fh 2o, 1940.

C. G. CLSCN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed March 9. 19:57

, Patented Feb. 20, 1940 I,

'UNITED STATES 2,191,297 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, DEVICE Carl- G. Olson,Chicago, lll., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,883

13 Claims. v(Cl. 173-328) This invention relates generally to electricalconnectors, and more particularly to electrical connectors of the type'which includes aconnector or terminal post and. a connector memberadapted to be electrically coupled therewith.

Many o f the conventional electrical connectors with which I am familiarpresent certain disadvantages. For example, certain types ofconnector orterminal arrangements necessitate the use of solder to insure properconnection. Others require'manual manipulation of one of the elements insuch a manner as to render theuse thereof inconvenient. That is to say,electrical l5 connection is not established by simply moving `one of theparts into contacting relationship with the other, but rather by manualmanipulation of both of the parts. The present invention contemplates anelectrical 'connector arrangement wherein the aforesaid and otherdisadvantages and inconveniences are overcome, and to this end theinvention contemplates a terminal post and connector member of such aconstruction as to enable contacting of the.parts by simply moving oneof them into operative association with the other.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates an arrangementwherein a connector element adapted to be secured to a exible con- 3oductor may be moved into operative association with a complementaryterminalpost and the parts subjected to a predetermined relativemovement which will serve to establisha relatively rigid coupling andgood electrical contact.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connector arrangement, asset forth above, wherein a desired wiping and camming action takes placewhen the connector elements are' or shake even when subjected to verysevere.` 50 operating conditions.

Thel foregoing and other objects and advantages -will be more evidentfrom the following description when this description is considered withthe accompanying drawing, wherein- 5 5 Figure yl is a perspective viewof a connector or terminal post constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrical connector. or terminalmember secured to the free extremity of an electrical conductor, said 5device being adapted for coupling with the electrical terminal post ofFigure l;

Figure 3 discloses the device of Figure 2 in its initial operativeassociation with the device oi' Figure 1, the dotted lines indicatingtheposition lo occupied by the electrical connector element of Figure 2when it has been shifted to its home or nal position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4 4 of Figure 5 disclosing the manner in which a fourypoint contact is made between the terminal post and connector element;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken 20 substantially along theline 5-5 of Figure 4 disclosing the manner in which the four-pointContact shown in Figure 4 is made on opposite sides of the uprightterminal post:

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modiiled 25 electrical terminal poststructure wherein the side walls thereof are adapted to yield when anaperturedconnector element is moved into operative associationtherewith;

Figure 'l isa side view of the electrical terminal 30 member of Figure 6with an apertured electrical connector element securedl in operativeassociation therewith, the inclined dotted lines indicating the initialposition assumed by the connector element before it is'shifteddownwardly to its 5' forward or home position indicated by the solidlines;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the associated electricalterminal and electrical connector elements of Figure 7, said view beingtaken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 7; Y

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectiqnal view taken substantially along theAline 9-9 of Figure 7; and

Figure 10 is a side .view of a modiiied electrical connector arrangementwith a portion of the electrical terminal post broken away to moreclearly illustrate the manner in which the parts ke electrical contactwith each other. 50

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals have been. employedto vdesignate similar parts throughout thev various figures, it will beseen that one embodiment of the present inven` tion contemplates anelectrical connector device I6 indicated generally by the numeral I2 inFigure 3.

. 'I'his connectordevice includes two elementsnamely, a fixed electricalterminal member I4 and a shiftable electrical terminal or connectormember I6. As more clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the terminal memberI4 includes a base portion I8 and an integral upright section 20. Thebase I8 is secured in any suitable manner to a work piece 22 as by meansof a screw 24. The upright terminal section 2 is. provided with anaperture 26. In thel embodiment disclosed in Figures l to 5, inclusive,this aperture 26 is surrounded by side walls 28 and upper andY lowerwalls 30. These walls 28 and 30 are connected by angularly disposed orinclined contactor surfaces 32. Each of these contactor surfaces 32 isdened on opposite sides thereof by contacter edges 34as will be moreapparent from Figures 4 and 5.

The electrical terminal or connector member I6 is preferably formed froma single piece of strip spring stock, said strip being bent back uponitself so as to present a shank portion 36, a

tip portion 36, and an intermediate resilient or cam portion 40.Particular attention is ldirected to the intermediate portion 4I), whichis symmetrical in longitudinal cross-section, and hence includesidentical oppositely disposed resilient cam surfaces 42, which extendoutwardly and rearwardly from the tip portion 38 to indentations 44.'I'hese indentations 44 are preferably of V-shaped cross-section and arebounded on opposite sides by contactor edges 46, which edges arecompanion to and adapted to engage the contactor corners or edges 34,Aas will be clearly apparent from Figure 5. The two sections of thestrip stock forming the shank 36 may be secured together in any suitablemanner. In the present embodiment one of the sections of the shank 36.is

provided with an aperture 46 through which a tongue 50 on the othershank section is inserted and bent so as to firmly secure both of theshank sections together as a unit. The apertured shank section isprovided with a conductor receiving split sleeve lt2. This split sleeve52 is adapted to be crimped or clamped against the free extremity of aflexible conductor 54, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

To couple th'e electricalterminal or connector member I6 with theterminal post I4, it is only necessary to insert the tip portion 38 ofthe connector member I6 within the terminal post aperture 26, as shownby the solid lines in Figure 3. This causes upper contactor edges 46 ofthe connector member I6 to rest against the complementary uppercontactor edges 34 of the terminal post, and also positions the portionof the cam surface 42 adjacent the tip portion 38 against the lowercomplementary contactor edges 34 of the terminal post. By rotating theconnector member I6 downwardly about a pivotal point or fulcrum A(Figure 3) presented by the engaging contactor edges 34--46, a wiping,camming action takes place between the lower contactor edges 34 and theopposite edges of the cam surface 42. It will be noted that the camsurface 42 is eccentric with respect to the fulerum point A, the pointor degree of maximum eccentricity being indicated by the lettervB inFigure 3. Thus, as the connector member I6 shifts toward the dottedposition shown in Figure 3, the surface 42 yields inwardly under theinfluence of the wiping, camming action and, when the connector reachesits ilnal or home position indicated by dotted linesinFigure'3andthesolldlinesinFl8ure5,thc

indentations 44 register with the inclined walls or surfaces 32 of theterminal post I4. In this position the resiliency of the sections 56 and58 of the intermediate connector portion 40 causes the contacter edges46 to be urged outwardly into firm contact with the complementarycontactor edges 34 of the terminal post member. It will be noted thatthe radius presented at the bottom of the indentations 44 is relativelysmall so as to provide a slight space 60 between the structure of theconnector member and the terminal post member, thereby insuring positiveindependent contacting between the four contactor edges 3i and theontactor edges 46 on one side of the terminal post, and simultaneoussimilar contacting of the edges 34 and edges 46 on the opposite side ofthe terminal post member.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that, when .the electricalconnector member I6 is shifted about the fulcrum point A to the dottedposition shown in Figure 3 and the solid line position shown in Figures4 and 5, a four-point contact on each side of the terminal post is madeby the complementary engaging edges 315-46. This eight-point contact notonly insures perfect electrical contact, but also establishes a couplingbetween the parts which is sufficiently rigid to withstand vibration andshock without loosening. The coupling established between the parts maybe correctly referred to as an anti-wiggle lcoupling-namely, a couplingwhich will positively prevent wiggling or shaking of the connectormember I6 after it hasbeen finally snapped into its home position. It isjust as important from a practical standpoint to have an electricalterminal secure against wiggling as it is to have the electricalterminal make a perfect electrical contact. Devices of this nature areparticularly adaptable for use with such apparatus as radio setsandsimilar electrical equipment wherein the slightest degree of wigglingor vibration experienced by an electrical connector associated therewithwill render the `functioning thereof most unsatisfactory. The devicejust described presents an arrangement which precludes the necessity ofemploying auxiliary locking devices for electrical connectors such as athreaded nut. Heretofore it has been common practice in many instancesto use a. connector device comprising an apertured electrical terminalmember placed over a threaded shank and secured in position by a nutscrewed upon the shank against the. surface of the electrical terminalmember. The present invention not only reduces the number of parts byeliminating the auxiliary clamping member or nut, but materiallyfacilitates the ease with which contact may be established. In otherwords, the present invention provides a device in which only one elementneed be manipulated in making the connection-namely, the electricalconnector member I6. Furthermore, the coupling, as well as theuncoupling of the connector parts contemplated by the present.invention, may be accomplished with the same degree of ease. If it isdesired to make a permanent electrical connection, the present inventionalso provides a very convenient device, to which solder may be appliedafter the parts have been clipped or snapped togather. A globule ofsolder dropped into one of the indentations "44, after the parts havebeen coupled together, will render the coupling secure againstunauthorized uncoupling thereof. However, unless the parts are to besecured against unauthorized'disconection, the use of solder may bedispensed with.

animerv In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, I have disclosed a. modifiedelectrical connector device indicated generally by the numeral I2a. Thisdevice .Iza comprises a terminal post member Ma and an electricalconnector or terminal member |6a. In the connector device I2 previouslydescribed the terminal member I4 -is provided with lan aperture 26 toreceive the cam surface 42 of the connector member I6. In the embodimentof the invention disclosed in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, however, thearrangement of cam and aperture structures has been reversed, in thatthe terminal member Ma. is provided with resilient cam membersl orsurfaces 42a, while the terminal member I6a is provided with acomplementary recess 26a. Also, the terminal member Ma is provided witha notch or indentation a designed to receive the complementary portionof the connector member I6a at the left extremity of the j#aperture 26a,as viewed in Figures 7 and 9. 'I'he position occupied by the electricalcontactor ymember IBa, when it is initially associated with theelectrical terminal post I 4a, is indicated by' the dotted lines inFigure 7. As the electrical connector member I6a is moved downwardlyabout its pivotal point A to its final position, indicated by the solidlines, the cam surfaces 42a are yieldably urged to the left and sidesurfaces B2 of the terminal post Ila are alsourged inwardly. An arcuaterecess 6I enables the cam surfaces 42a to yieldably shift to the left asthe connector member IGa is moved to its final or home position.Suitable shoulders or abutments 66 limit the downward movement of theconnector member Ia.

With the connector member IIa. positioned as shown in Figures 7 and 9,t'he resilient side portions lof the terminal member I4a will have beenshifted from the dotted line to the solid line position indicated inFigure 9, and the connector member IE will be secured against lateralmovement or wiggling. Suitable base portions d8a of the terminal post Maare apertured to facilitate mounting upon-a work piece. The connectormember Ia may be uncoupled from the terminal member Ilia by exertingsufficient force at 4the free end thereof to overcome the resilientbinding action of the terminal post.

In Figure l another modification of the invention is disclosed whichcomprises a. connector device indicated generally by the numeral I2b.This device comprises a terminal post member Mb and alelectrlcalconnector member IBb. The termnal post member Ib includes a basesectionIb and an upright section 2Mb, the upright section being apertured toreceive bifurcated extremities 68 and 'III of the connector member lb.The resilient member 68 is provided with a. cam surface 42h, which isadapted to make a wiping contact with the portion of the terminal memberin the vicinity of the lower end of the aperture therein. The connector`member IBb is adapted to be fulcrumed about a point A2 in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the device of .Figures l to5, inclusive. As the connector memberI 6b is moved to its nal or homeposition, as shown in Figure 10, the frictional resistance between thecamV surface 42h and the complementary portion of the terminal member Mbis increased so as to securely. hold the connector member in position.Shoulders 'I2 on the connector member-IGI) coact with the outer surfaceof application of solder at the fulcrum point; for.

example, in Figure a globule of solder may be dropped within one of theV channels presented at the upper side, this being a point where a lightsoldering connection may be easily broken in disassembling by simplyapplying rotary mo- 'tion to Vthe free extremity of the terminal orconnector member. Furthermore, the wiping action which is experiencedbetween the contacting points .as the shiftablek connector element isbeing moved into engagement with the companionelement insures perfectelectrical contact, because it serves to remove any corrosion or othersurface material which might have a tendency to impair electricalcontact.

It is to bev understood that the invention is not limited in any senseto the specific structural A features disclosed, herein, but is capableofv numerous other modifications and` changes withappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desirel tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical connector device including a connector member having anaperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to beelectrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement ofsaid members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of saidconnector members for permitting interengagement of the connectors atsaid fixed point for providing a fulcrum point, said complementaryconnector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect tosaid interengaging means, theother connector havinga out departing fromthe spirit and scope of the contact surface provided by at least oneedge of said aperture, said contact surface being arranged in the pathof said eccentric surface when said complementary connector member ispivoted about said4 fulcrum whereby one member is. adapted to fulcrumupon the other member whereby to establish resilient contact betweensaid members in response to a pivotal movement through a given distance.

2. An electrical connector device including a connector member having anaperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to beelectrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement ofsaid members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of saidconnector/members for permitting interengagement of the connectors atsaid nxed point for providing a fulcrum point, said com plementaryconnector member having a surface arranged eccentrically with respect tosaid lnterengaging means, the other connector having a contact surfaceprovided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surfacebeing arranged in the path of said eccentric surface when saidcomplementary connector member is pivoted about said fulcrum whereby onemember is adapted to fulcrui upon the other meiiber whereby to establishresilient contact between tachable said members in response to a pivotalmovement through a given distance, the contacting surfaces of saidmembers being constructed and arranged to enable a wiping actiontherebetween during said pivotal movement.

3. An electrical connector device including a connector member having anaperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted to beelectrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement ofsaid members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of saidconnector members for permitting interengagement of the connectors atsaid xed point for providing a fulcrum point, said complementaryconnector member having a surface arranged veccentrically with respectto said interengaging means and resiliently supported with respect tothe fulcrum point, the other connector having a contact surface providedby at least one edge of said aperture, said contact surface beingarranged in the path of said eccentric surface when said complementaryconnector member is pivoted about said fulcrum whereby one member isadapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilientcontact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through agiven distance, said complementary connector member having itsinterengaging means and eccentric surface formed on oppositely disposedyieldable sections adapted for engagement with complementary portions ofthe other connector member. a

fi. An electrical connector device including a connector member havingan aperture, and a decomplementary connector member adapted to beelectrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movement ofsaid members, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of saidconnector members at said fixed point for providing a fulcrum point,said com-A plementary connector member having a surface arrangedeccentrically with respect to said interengaging means and resilientlysupportedl with respect to the fulcrum point, the other connector havinga contact surface provided by at least one edge of said aperture, saidcontact surface being arranged in the path of said eccentric surfacewhen said complementary connector member is pivoted about said fulcrumwhereby one member is adapted to fulcrum upon the-other member `wherebyto establish resilientcontact between'said members in response to apivotal movement through a given distance, at least one of" saidinterengaging means comprising an indentation to facilitate said pivotalmovement.

5. An electrical connector 'device including a connector member havingan aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member adapted tobe electrically connected therewith as an incident to relative movementof said mem.

bers, interengaging means at a fixed point on each of said connectormembers for permitting interengagement of the connectors at said fixedpoint for providing a fulcrum point, said complementary connector memberhaving a surface arranged eccentrically with respect to saidinterengaging means and resiliently supported with engaging means areengaged and receding'from said fulcrum point as it progresses from saidentering portion for providing an increasing wiping engagementl as the,complementary connector member is pivoted whereby one member is 5adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby to establish resilientcontact between said members in response to a pivotal movement through agiven distance, one of said connector members having a free extremityadapted 10 to receive a flexible electrical conductor.

6. An electrical connector device including a connector member having anaperture, and a.

,detachable complementary connector member adapted to be electricallyconnected therewith as an incident to relative movement of said members,interengaging means onl each of said connector members for permittingpivotalinteren- .gagement of the connectors at iixed points whereby toprovide a fulcrum point, said complementary connector member having apair of cam surfaces arranged eccentricailly with rea spect to saidinterengaging means, the other connector having a contact surfaceprovided by at least one edge of said aperture, said contact g5 surfacebeing arranged in thepath of at least one of said cam surfaces when thevsaid complementary connector member is pivoted about its fulcrum wherebyone member is adapted to fulcrum upon the other member whereby toestablish resilient contact between said members in response to apivotal movement through a given distance, said cam surfaces beingoppositely disposed and adapted to be resiliently urged toward eachother during said pivotal movement.

7. An electrical connector device including a stamping of sheet metalproviding a connector member having an aperture, and a detachablecomplementary connector member adapted to be electrically connectedtherewith as an incident to relative movement of said members, saidcomplementary connector member having means engageable with saidapertured connector member to providea pivotal fulcrum connection, saidsecond connector member being provided with a resilient cam surfacecooperatively engageable with a complementary surface of the iirstconnector member adjacent -the aperture thereof, said cam vsurface beingso formed as' to reside an increasing distance away from the fulcrum inthe direction of rotationabout said fulcrum, whereby, when one of saidconnector members is turned with respect to the otherl resilient contactmay be established between said members.

8. An electrical vconnector device including a connector member havingan aperture, and a detachable complementary connector member ofresilient sheet stock adapted to be electrically connected therewith asan incident to relative movement of. said members, said complementaryconnector member having means engageable with said apertured connectormember to provide a pivotal fulcrum connection, said second connector`member being provided with a resilient cam surface cooperativelyengageable with a complementary surface of the first connector memberadjacent the aperture thereof, said cam slu'face being so formed as toreside an increasing distance away from the fulcrum in the directiin ofrotation about said fulcrum, whereby, when one of said connector membersis turned with respect to the other, resilient contact may beestablished between said members,

9. An electrical connector device including an I apertured connectormember, said aperture being defined by wall portions terminating atopposed corners, and a detachable complementary connector member adaptedto be electrically con:

nected therewith as an incident to relative movevment of said members,said lsecond connector memberhaving a resilient portion adapted to be10. An electrical connector including a shankv portion, means at oneextremity of said shank portion for receiving the terminal of a'iiexibl'e electrical conductor, and couplingmeans at the oppositeextremity of said shank including oppositely disposed cam surfacesyieldable toward each other, interengaging means on said connectoradapted to engage a complementary electrical connector pivotally toprovide a fulcrum connection, said cam surfaces having an enteringportion adjacent the end of the shank adapted to l,enter Aacomplementary aperture, at least on'e of said cam surfaces receding awayfrom said fulcrum point 'as it progresses away from said entering.portion to enable pivotal insertion thereof within a complementaryaperture and for providing an increased wiping engagement as theconnector is pivoted within said aperture.

11. An electrical connector including a `shank portion. means at 'oneextremity of said shank portion for receiving the terminal of a flexibleelectrical conductor, and coupling means at the .opposite extremity ofsaid shankincluding opl positely disposed cam surfaces terminating inoppositely disposed indentations and yieldable toward each other toenable pivotal insertion thereof within a complementary aperture, saidcam surfaces having an entering portion adjacent one end of the shank,said cam surfaces being spaced increasing distances from the opposedindentations as they recede from said entering'portion whereby pivotalmovement about lsaid indentations causes an opposite cam surfacecommodation within said aperture, said connector member having wallportions intersecting providing a corner on said second named connectormember, said corners on said two connector members being adapted to beso situated when the said connector. members are interlocked that thelongitudinally extending corners on the respective connectors make pointcontact without permitting contact of any wall portions adjacent saidcorners.

13. An` electrical connector device including a connector member havingan aperture, said aperture being defined by wall portions extendingtransversely of the aperture and terminating at a longitudinallyextending corner, and a detachable complementary connector member formedfor accommodation within said aperture, said connector member havingwall portions intersecting to provide corners on said second namedconnector member, said corners on said two connector members beingadapted to beso relatively situated when the said connector members areinterlocked that said corner edges on the complementary connector memberextend in 'a direction .axially of the aperture whilel being 4 CARL o.oLsoN.

device including l0

